Self-leveling table



Patented Nov. l, I898.

3 Sheets-Sheet L IIVI/E/VTOR ahwzwlzfizzm BY 2451M /-@9\ ATTORNEYJ llllll illl lll llll /l C W ALLEN SELF LEVELING TABLE.

(Appl z mdrb 4 1898) llllI- H lllllIl llllll I'll (No Model) Patented Nov. l, I898.

C. W. ALLEN.

SELF. LEVELING TABLE.

(Afiplication filed Feb. 4, 1898 (N0 Model.)

3 Shasta-Sheet 2.

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SELF LEVELING TABLE.

(Application filed Feb. 4, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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WITNESSES: IIVI/E/VTOH v BY M. M y 7K6. (FM w NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES WM. ALLEN, OF OPTION, PENNSYLVANIA.

SELF-LEVELING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,436, dated November 1, 1898.

Application filed February 4, 1898. $eria1 No. 669,052. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES WM. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States of'America, 'residing at Option, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Leveling Tables, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. 7

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in tables, and may be particularly referred to as a self-leveling table, and is designed to preserve the perfect equilibrium of the table-top without respect to the base of thetable.

The invention is particularly adapted for use upon vessels, where owing to the rocking of the latter it isdifficult to retain an equilibrium of the table-top that is sufficient to prevent the dishes slipping ofi the same.

The principles involved in the construction of my improved table may be adapted for vallQllS other uses, although the adaptation of the same is herewith illustrated in but the oneform.

The principal feature of the invention comprises ahub,from which is suspended a weight or pendulum, on the top of which the table proper is supported by a frame, such as illustrated herewith, or by other'suitable means. The rod which carries the weight or pendulum also carries leveling means, which as the floor upon which the table rests is inclined simultaneously inclines the hub and frame, so as to retain the equilibrium of the tabletop and prevent oscillation thereof. The hub is provided with circular tracks, upon which the same travels, the friction being reduced to a minimum by means of double pulleys or rollers arranged at the ends of the hubs and adapted to travel upon the aforesaid circular tracks. Minor other details of construction are involved to complete the operation of the device, all of which will be hereinafter more specifically described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and Wherein like figures of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views,in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved self-leveling table, partly broken away to show the weight or pendulum. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the spokes attached to the hub, showing rollers which engage the circular tracks. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the same. Fig. 5 is a side view, partially in section. Fig. 6 is a top view showing movement of the rollers in dotted lines. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the guide-plate. Fig. 8 is a top plan view with the yoke and supporting-frame for the table-top removed. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the yoke. Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line XXof Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the circular track upon which the'guide-plate rests. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one of the hangers, partly broken away.

Referring now to the drawings by referencefigures, ldenotes a box or casing, which is or may be provided with a base 2 and which forms a receptacle to inclose and within which the weight or pendulum 3 is permitted any desired manner; but in cases where the table is to be made stationary the floor may act in the same capacity as the cover 4, the

pendulum or weight being suspended below' the same. This pendulum or weight is suspended from a rod 5, passing upward through the central aperture or hole 6 provided therefor in the cover 4, and at its upper end passes through and is secured to the hub 7, the latter being provided with four spokes 8, extending at right angles to each other. These spokes are provided in their outer ends with recesses 9, in which are loosely secured by rivets '10 or other suitable means short shafts or axles 11, which have vertical bars 12 attached to each side of the same at their outer ends, and in the ends of these bars are journaled the rollers or pulleys 14, which engage and travel upon the circular tracks 15 16, extending over the hub. These circular extending tracks 15 16 cross each other transversely at their highest point and are connected to a common ring 17, which is arranged within the central aperture 6 and may be securely fastened to the covercby staples oranyothersuitable means, the said tracks being supported and prevented from spreading by the four vertical standards 18, which are arranged opposite the same on top of the cover 4 and to which the tracks may be connected. The recess 9 in the ends of the spokes may be formed by cutting away the central portion of the spokes, thereby forming two jaws, within which the shaft is secured, and inclosing the sides of the jaws with a band 19 around the spoke.

Supported upon the hub 7, and which may be secured thereto by the rod 5 which carries the pendulum, is a frame 20, the transverselyextending top bars 21 of which frame support a rest for the table-top 22, which may be secured thereto in any suitable manner. Arranged within this frame or table-support 20 is a yoke 23, which has journaled in its top bar a roller 24, which engages and travels upon a semicircular track 25, arranged directly over the track 16, and which may be secured by fastening the ends of the same to the top of the two standards 18, which correspond in position to'the location of the said track 25.

The circular track 15 extends transversely through the open portion of the yoke, while the circular track 16 and the semicircular track 25 extend longitudinally through the yoke through openings 26 which are provided therefor in the inclined end pieces of the said yoke. The lower bar of this yoke (designated by the reference-figure 27) has secured thereon two hanger-rods 28, carrying on their lower ends circular bands 29,- which engage loosely two of the spokes 8 and which serve to retain the hub 7 and the yoke in the same relative positions at all times.

Arranged directly over the central aperture 6 of the cover 4: is a circular track or guidering 30, which is or maybe supported by legs 31, secured in a suitable manner to the cover 4. Secured at a point upon the rod 5, which carries the weight or pendulum 3, and at a point so it will rest upon this circular track or guide-ring 30', is a guide-plate, by means of which the oscillation of the table is prevented, and comprises a plate 32, having a screw-threaded central aperture 33, by means of which it may be adjusted upon the rod 5, and provided with a series of diverging concavo-convex fingers 34, the convex faces of which rest and operate upon the circular track or guide-ring 30.

The operation of the device will, it is thought, be readily apparent from the views of the same that have been given and from the foregoing description of its construction.

It will be readily apparent that the operation of the device is comparatively easy and the result absolutely sure by reason of the rollers carried in the ends of the spokes engaging the circular and transversely-extend ing tracks, causing the same to travel with the least inclining of the floor or support in a direction to obtain the level of the hub, to which the table-top is suitably secured. It is of course understood that the weight or pendulum 3, which is attached to the rod 5, being suspended, always remains in the vertical position, and the weight of the same being sufficient to counteract the weight of the mechanism from which it is supported causes the guide-plate to shift upon the circular track or guide-ring, thereby efiecting the equilibrium of the table-top and preventing any oscillation.

While the construction as herein shown and described appears to embody the preferred form of my invention, yet I do not wish to limit myself to its exclusive use for the purpose as herein set forth and described, as the same principle may be employed for various other purposes with but slight changes in the arrangement and construction of the elements involved in the invention as herein set forth.

Having fully described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A self-leveling table comprising a box or casing, standards arranged on top of the same, circular tracks extending transversely of the table and engaging said standards, a hub ar ranged between said tracks,- said hub having extending spokes which carry rollers engaging the aforesaid tracks, a rod suspended from said hub, a weight secured on said rod, and a supporting-frame on top of the hub which receives and supports the table-top, substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination, a hub, a rod secured thereto and a weight or pendulum attached to the lower end of the rod, a guide-plate car ried by the rod, and a frame secured on top of the hub and forming a support for the ta ble-top, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination, the hub,- the weighted rod secured thereto, the guide-plate secured on said rod,- and a circular track or guidering for said guide-plate, substantially as shown and described.

4. In combination, the hub, the weighted rod secured thereto, the guide-plate, the circular track or guide-ring for said guide-plate, and the frame supported by the hub, substantially as shown and described.

5. In combination, the hub, the circular tracks extending transversely of the same, the weighted rod secured to said hub, the guide-plate, the circular track or guide-ring, forsupporting the guide-plate, and the spokes attached to said hub, and carrying rollers which engage the circular tracks, substantially as shown and described.

6. In combination, the hub, the circular tracks, the spokes which carry rollers engaging said tracks, the weighted rod depending from the hub, the yoke, hangers carried by said yoke which engage two of the spokes IIO of the hub, the guide-plate attached to the weighted rod, and the circular track or guidering upon which the guide-plate rests, substantially as shown and described.

5 7. In a leveling-table, the combination of the hub, a weighted rod depending from said hub, a casing for inclosing the weight carried by said rod, the circular tracks extending transversely of the hub, the yoke, hangers to carried by said yoke, and engaging spokes on the hnb,a support arranged on top of the hub,- and the table-top resting on said support, all arranged and operating as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 15 in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES WM. ALLEN. Witnesses JOHN No'nAND, WILLIAM E. MINOR. 

